Read Online Dead Giveaway by Brenda Novak - Free Book Online

asked.
    â€œHendricks is an idiot.”
    She checked the window for headlights, knowing Hendricks could arrive at any moment. “I agree. But his father is on the board of supervisors. And I was talking about the case. From what you’ve heard, do you think Beth Ann’s statement will have any impact?”
    â€œIt could.”
    Allie had anticipated a different answer, a confirmation of her own opinion. “What about my report?”
    â€œWhat about it?”
    â€œAren’t you going to read it?”
    â€œI don’t need to.”
    â€œWhat?”
    He didn’t answer.
    â€œDad, if you’re not going to read the report, I’ll tell you. We don’t have much more than we had yesterday. Beth Ann is merely claiming Clay told her something he swears he didn’t. That’s not physical evidence.”
    â€œIt all adds up,” he said indifferently.
    â€œLast I heard, we needed more than ‘he said, she said’to charge someone with murder. At the very least, a body would be nice.”
    â€œTry telling that to all the people who’ve been calling here, demanding Clay’s arrest,” he snapped. “I swear they’d lynch him if they could, without proof that he’s guilty of anything—except, perhaps, refusing to kiss the right asses.”
    Allie had never heard her father be so supportive of Clay. “You once told me you thought he was guilty, and that his mother and sisters were covering for him,” she said. “Have you changed your mind?”
    His two fingers continued to pluck at the keys. “What I think doesn’t matter.” He angled his head toward her report. “What you think doesn’t matter, either. Only what we can prove.”
    â€œBut we can’t prove he killed Barker. So how can the D.A. run with this?”
    â€œHe can and he might. It’s a political hornet’s nest right now.”
    â€œThat’s crazy,” she said. “We need to find the real culprit.”
    â€œYou don’t think it’s Clay?” He looked up at her.
    â€œIt could be him or one of several other people,” she hedged.
    He went back to typing. “Don’t waste any effort on Barker’s disappearance.”
    Allie sat straighter. Her father had acted as if the Barker case wasn’t a high priority to him, but this was the first time he’d actually stated it. “What did you say?”
    â€œWhatever physical evidence there once was is long gone.”
    â€œNot necessarily,” she argued. “The files themselves could contain the key to the whole mystery.”
    â€œMaybe, but what’s to be gained for all the hours you’d have to spend doing the research and interviewing everyone who ever gave a statement? The offender’s never acted again. It’s not an issue of public safety.”
    â€œIt can stop the D.A. from going after the wrong guy. Although I doubt they’d get a conviction against Clay, even if they tried him.”
    â€œThey could if they tried him around here.”
    Allie didn’t like that answer. “It’s a matter of justice,” she said. “Of giving Reverend Barker’s relatives the answers they crave. A man has gone missing, Dad. As far as I’m concerned, it’s our job to find out what happened to him.”
    â€œHe went missing a long time ago,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, we’ve got more pressing problems.”
    Allie gaped at him. “Why the change of heart?”
    â€œSolving a cold case takes months and months of hard work. You’ve told me that yourself.”
    â€œIt does, but—”
    â€œI don’t see any point in chasing this one,” he interrupted. “On or off the job. I need you to take care of the problems that are cropping up today, not two decades ago. And you’re a single mom, Allie. You don’t want to be spending all your off-hours